………“Government becomes meaningful when its impact is felt in the daily lives of our people.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, CON, has charged the chairmen of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Councils to translate the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration into tangible development, effective service delivery and improved quality of life for citizens at the grassroots.
The two-day conference, held at the Banquet hall of State House with a theme “Cascading President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to the Grassroots,” brings together local government leaders and traditional institutions to deliberate on grassroots governance, development, peaceful community engagement and improved service delivery.
The President described the theme of the conference as central to the national development agenda, stressing that the success of government should be measured not only by policies announced at the Federal level but by the positive changes experienced by citizens in their wards, villages, towns and communities.
The President also highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening local government autonomy, noting the significance of the Supreme Court judgment of July 11, 2024, affirming the constitutional rights and financial autonomy of local governments.
President Tinubu urged local governments to take greater responsibility for planning, coordination, implementation and accountability, while making effective use of technology, reliable statistics and evidence-based decision-making. He noted that councils possess valuable knowledge of the peculiar challenges confronting their communities and should use such knowledge to develop interventions that directly respond to local needs.
He urged the participants to return to their respective councils with a renewed commitment to transforming local governments into effective centres of development and models of responsive governance.
Earlier on in his welcome address, the Honourable of FMSDIGA, Rt. Hon. Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo, MFR, in his remarks, described the conference as an important platform for strengthening inter-governmental relations and enhancing cooperation among the Federal, State and Local Governments.
He emphasised that Local Governments, as the tier of government closest to the people, have a critical role in translating national policies and programmes into tangible development outcomes.
The Minister also highlighted the important role of traditional institutions in peacebuilding, community mobilisation, cultural preservation and sustainable development. He urged participants to share experiences, identify challenges and develop practical solutions that would improve service delivery, accountability and the implementation of government interventions at the grassroots.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Onwusoro Maduka Ihemelandu, emphasised the strategic importance of the 774 Local Government Areas as platforms for implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He noted that the councils possess considerable agricultural, mineral and human resources which can contribute significantly to national development when properly harnessed.
He stressed the need for reliable data, effective monitoring, verification and coordination of development projects at the grassroots. To strengthen project visibility and accountability, the Ministry plans to further develop an E-Tracking Framework for Local Government Area Projects, building on the experience of the GIS-PMIS initiative.
The proposed framework will provide information on project locations, descriptions, contractors, costs, implementation timelines, physical progress, photographic evidence, verification status and implementation challenges. It is expected to improve planning, accountability, resource prioritisation and timely government intervention.
Signed:
Mandal Francis
CIO
Press and Public Relations Unit
22 September 2026
